The wheels fell off for the Shock as the Mercury dominated them in a Game 5 loss at the Palace that cost Detroit the 2007 WNBA title. Just like she did after Game 4, noted DBB reader PistonsGirl4Life has provided analysis not just for the game but what the Shock need to do going forward. Special note for those Pistons fans itching to see Bill Laimbeer climb into the NBA coaching saddle: the grass may not be greener.
by: PistonsGirl4Life
Before I get started I feel it’s important to note that I didn’t watch game 5 of the Finals live, but rather on tape. Additionally when my friend gave me the tape of the game after work he warned “You’re not going to like what you see.” This is important because watching the tape knowing the Shock had lost may have slanted my observations towards the negative. I personally don’t think so, but you’ve been duly warned.
Secondly I’d strongly recommend anyone who thinks Bill Laimbeer can do no wrong stop reading now. I intend to analyze both game 5 and the Shock’s entire run to the Finals, including why they ultimately failed to win another championship. I don’t think that’s possible without examining their most important puzzle piece (Coach Laimbeer) with a critical eye.
Finally I’d like to request the patience of any regular WNBA fan who reads the article. Many of the things I’ll have to explain for everyone reading are “common knowledge” in WNBA circles and will therefore seem redundant to you. Otoh I’m sure you’ll agree that helping new fans (and I do hope that’s what we’re talking about here at DBB, four or five new Shock fans… even if they’re just the casual type and are only watching because the NBA doesn’t start till October) understand and love this game is worth a little patience.
Considering that in the first four games of the WNBA finals we’d seen just about everything the WNBA has to offer; shootouts, blowouts, tight contested final second games and teams playing completely out of character for crucial wins… it’s no surprise at all that game 5 finally produced a clunker. Anti-climactic doesn’t even come close to the thrashing Phoenix put on Detroit as the Mercury lead for the entire game and Detroit never cut the lead below double digits after the first quarter. It’s easy enough to say the Mercury simply hit their shots, but watching the game I was absolutely stunned at how often they did so while wide open.
Pondexter was dominant again and definitely deserves the MVP however one really can’t discount the astounding performance by Penny Taylor. Of the Mercury’s big three it’s always been my position that she’s the weakest link. You can shut her down with tough play and tenacity. Tonight however she simply wouldn’t be denied, raining clutch basket after basket and hitting an astounding 18 of 18 at the line. In the WNBA there are no “superstar” fouls (though Silver Stars fans will beg to differ this season) so when you go to the line 9 times its abundantly clear you were driving hard and drawing contact, something Taylor has been unwilling to do so far in this series. She was a force for almost the entire game (37 mp). Taurasi was effective but unspectacular on a night the Shock never really forced her to do much of anything.
Detroit is going to have trouble taking anything positive from this loss. Deanna Nolan was excellent offensively but her three turnovers and four fouls came at horrible times. It was arguably a case of one player trying to do too much since she was the only member of the Shock who showed up for all four quarters. Katie Smith also played well for stretches and was particularly dangerous from three point range (6 of 9) but it’s obvious she’s no longer the kind of scorer who can win a game all by herself. Additionally she wasn’t very good defensively, although that could be said of the entire Shock squad on this night.
Unfortunately that’s about where the good news ends. Ford played 12 almost irrelevant minutes on one good leg and one can’t help but wonder if there will be long term repercussions for her after she’s played essentially the entire playoffs with a cartilage tear in her left knee. Ford is invaluable to what the Shock do but it was obvious that her leg wouldn’t let her be effective on the glass almost the moment she checked in and she’s hardly a dynamic scorer. One has to wonder why she played 2 let alone 12 minutes in that state.
Kara Braxton was basically 6’6” and 12 minutes of nothing and her 3 personal fouls in that time certainly didn’t help. Swin Cash was ineffective at best, starting the game but shooting 3 of 9 and picking up 5 personal fouls in only 25 minutes. Somehow Plenette Pierson was worse, going 2 of 6 and fouling out in just 22 minutes of action. Katie Feenstra (she of 6’8” Amazon fame) wasn’t particularly effective on the glass but hit a surprising 5 of 6 for 10 points on the game. One definitely has to wonder what Laimbeer was thinking when you realize she only played 15 minutes (we’ll get back to this later). Fouls and turnovers certainly weren’t the problem as she only had one of each. It’s pretty hard for a single game to tarnish a season as magnificent as the one the Detroit Shock enjoyed this year, but game 5 of the finals might do just that. It would be very easy to blame this game on fatigue or Phoenix simply making shots and that’s what I’d presume Detroit is going to do. It would also however be a mistake.
On paper the Shock are the most talented squad in the league; possessing 8 players who when healthy and motivated would likely start for MOST other teams in the league. They have the best pure shooter in the game (Nolan), the best veteran scoring option (Katie Smith), the best rebounder (Ford), the most height inside (Feenstra at 6’8”, Braxton at 6’6”) and if they aren’t the biggest/strongest team in the league they’re a very close second. These are not the opinions of a hometown fan either. The Shock has at one time or another absolutely destroyed every team in the WNBA over the past four years. When they are on, motivated and get a fair shake at the line it’s obvious to almost everyone watching (including professional WNBA sports writers… all 5 of them) they’re on another level in women’s basketball. On paper they are simply the best and it’s VERY difficult to understand why they only have two championships in the last 5 years to show for it.
2004 was a wash because Cash missed most of the season and was at the time Detroit’s primary scoring option. However there’s no explaining 2005 and one has to wonder how a coach who’s calling card is “playing with passion and motivation” managed to field a squad that looked so lethargic and disinterested for most of the first half in the deciding game of the 2007 WNBA finals. While your pondering that question you probably have to ask why the Shock were unable to find the desire to show up for game one of the first and second rounds this year. Once you start asking that question you’ve opened a whole new can of worms because this has been the hallmark of the Detroit Shock ever since winning their first title in 2003. It borders on impossible to count the number of times these past 5 years that the Shock have simply “failed to show up” for WNBA games. It wouldn’t be so bad if the phenomena were restricted to the regular season but the problem actually tends to become magnified when the playoffs start each year.
From the outside it appears that collectively the Shock believe they have a right to win every game regardless of effort. It’s almost as if their toughness and resiliency in the face of elimination in the past has given them as sense of invulnerability despite a great deal of evidence to the contrary. When the best team in the league doesn’t play like the best team in the league who’s to blame? When players bicker openly with coaches, referees and each other to the detriment of the team who’s to blame? When a team consistently fails to appear INTERESTED in PLAYOFF games, who’s to blame? When a team openly quits during blowout losses to inferior opposition rather than maintaining its pride and dignity, who’s to blame? I’m terribly sorry to say this but the answer to all 4 of those questions is “Bill Laimbeer, Head Coach of the Detroit Shock” no matter HOW much I may not want to say that and you may not want to hear it.
Nobody in the world can take away what Bill has given this team. His passion, determination, fire and introduction of the “us against the world” mentality can be directly attributed to Detroit’s first championship in 2003 and its subsequent rise from the ashes into a model WNBA franchise and a desirable destination for talented Free Agents. When the Shock desperately needed an identity, Bill game them his and everyone who loves this team will be forever grateful for that.
The Shock however is no longer the little engine that could; they’re a high speed monorail and require a coach who can make the right decision in the blink of an eye. There is no more time for playing favorites or pulling emotional strings with playing time. The best players for that situation have to know they’ll be on the court when it matters. They have to believe that their abilities and talents are why they’re on the floor at all times, not questioning if they’re sitting because Bill’s mad at them. These girls have all grown up now and have started to tune out Laimbeer’s tantrums and theatrics. It’s time for Laimbeer to prove he is what he keeps saying he is; an excellent basketball coach who deserves an NBA gig and soon. You can’t let your team get run out of the building because they WON’T make adjustments and expect anyone to think you’ll be better at dealing with the ego maniacs who populate men’s NBA squads. Right now NBA execs have to be wondering if Laimbeer can handle a rotation properly (Seriously he turned Katie Feenstra from ROY to spare part center in a single season. He also took Swin Cash from an MVP level forward to a 22 min a night player who won’t even look him in the eye during team huddles. Wow). Bill Laimbeer and the Shock are veering dangerously close to being an embarrassing footnote to a time in WNBA history were simply acting tough could win you a title. The league is catching up and Detroit can’t expect to win anymore with a sideshow bad cop worse cop screaming act.
With the above in mind (and already prepared for the hate mail) here’s a brief summary of what I think the Shock should do for next season. Please note that this is highly unlikely to actually BE what the personal fiefdom of Bill Laimbeer does but it’s what I think is needed for success in 2008:
- The organization needs to make a decision on Swin Cash. If Laimbeer is right and she’s lost all heart then get rid of her. Dynasties can’t be about yesterdays and Cash’s idol status will only get in the way of developing the team’s future. If Cash DOES still have the desire to play in the WNBA then someone needs to tell Laimbeer to back off immediately. Riding her into the ground and constantly questioning her effort has NOT produced a return to All Star form. Neither has slashing her minutes to half a game. By continuing to start her but only giving her backup minutes, Laimbeer has created both a massive distraction for his team and a seemingly irreconcilable rift between player and coach.
- Katie Feenstra needs to play more every single night. Her numbers in San Antonio were not a mirage; the girl can play. If she can’t play PF beside Ford maybe Ford can play PF beside her. She’s a better scoring option than any other big on the squad, has 6’8” 240 LB size and in San Antonio at least showed a proclivity for blocking shots. How does this player NOT play 25 minutes a night minimum?
- Alternately Kara Braxton needs to play less minutes every single night. Despite her size (6’6” 190 but if you believe that weight you’ve never seen her on TV, she’s heavier) she’s constantly getting hammered inside by smaller players. She isn’t particularly good at using her strength or size on the glass either; mostly hauling in the “easy” rebounds (and maddeningly sometimes not even out muscling people for THOSE). She’s not exactly a spring chicken in the Women’s game either (remember for female athletes the proverbial “Wall” is almost always just after 30… I mean in tennis most women are washed up at 22, no really). Bringing Braxton off the bench to provide a little muscle remains a good option but she shouldn’t be significantly impacting either Ford or Feenstra’s playing time any longer.
- Coach Laimbeer has to stop playing favorites with playing time and adopt a simple policy of substituting at the first possible opportunity when a given player seems to be fading out of the game. The man has 8 starters at his disposal and yet FREQUENTLY leaves struggling or lethargic players in the game far too long in the hopes that they will “flick the switch” like so many times before. It’s great when it happens but the Shock MUST stop expecting it to happen every time.
- The entire Shock squad, coaches and players needs to sit down, shut up and play/coach some damn basketball. The “us against the world” card is starting to destroy team chemistry rather than unite it. Playing with fire is fine when you live in a box worth nothing, the Shock are a dynasty now and need to start acting like it. You can be tough on the court, but between whistles and in front of the camera the team needs to start reflecting class, dignity, strength and confidence. They need to let the league know that they will be coming for 40 minutes every single night. They need to start blowing out weaker opponents from start to finish. Right now the entire league thinks they can beat the Shock just by playing head games. The team NEEDS to make them do it playing basketball. Finally Bill needs to shut up and start coaching basketball instead of running a 365 day a year campaign to get on the Piston’s staff.
Okay that’s it, commence the stoning.
Thanks again to PG4L for taking the time to contribute — as an admitted Shock bandwagon jumper, I find it interesting to read the insight from someone who’s obviously followed the team closely all along.
Also, the Bill Laimbeer observations are enlightening. I get the feeling that a lot of fans want him to get his shot in the NBA without having actually watched him coach in the WNBA. I still hope he does get a chance sometime soon (even if not in Detroit), but I wonder if he’s not a little like Doug Collins, whose intensity provides a shot in the arm but eventually provides diminishing returns over time as players tire of the personality.
Swin Cash’s decline has more to do with a bad knee and two herniated disks than it does with Laimbeer.
Speaking of the coach, I often wonder why so many people — Detroit people, no less — look for reasons to rule out Bill from the NBA. Many times we’ve seen retired favorites and beloved announcers get kicked upstairs when they can’t even spell “coach.” But mention Laimbeer, and suddenly there’s this heightened standard like we’re picking a spouse for life. So Laimbeer may only be a guy you keep around for three years to whip a bunch of kids into pro form. Anybody heard of Larry Brown? In a league where Mike Montgomery and Gar Heard can get jobs, Laimbeer belongs more than many.
If it helps I never once discussed Laimbeer in refference to the NBA and said “he can’t”… just that I’m sick of him not coaching the Shock so much as auditioning for the Detroit job non stop.
As for Cash, you are imho incorrect. Please look up Laimbeer’s quotes on Cash which say “when Swin wants to play hard she’d play” or something rather similar. She’s over the injuries and is not being played because Bill doesn’t feel she should be played.
Again, that is the truth, just look it up. Seriously you guys need to start fact checking better this is frustrating and stupid.
Ok,
Laimbeer built the team, made it what it is today. Saved the franchise. He is the coach + GM.
He coached the best team in WNBA this year, but major injuries happened at the wrong time. This team was BANGED all the hell up.
Had Ford not gotten injured, I can literally guarantee you that uncontested winning lay-up in game 4 - WOULD NOT have been uncontested. Braxton is the most irritating player on this squad, who appears to not give a damn, and feels that she is entitled to play the big minutes, but only shows up in spurts.
This team battled man in game 4, that was a heartbreaking loss, and they just could not get over it. Game 5 was bad, but I cannot lay blame on coach Laimbeer. Is he a perfect coach? No, but there are none out there.
Swin cash is HURT. Her back is a mess. If she feels that Laimbeer should play her the big minutes regardless of her poor performance, and injury problems - SHE NEEDS TO GO. When Laimbeer was banged up in the 89 series with the Lakers, he played some of the fewest minutes he ever had in any playoff series. Did he bitch to coach Daily? Nope, he played when he was on the floor, and contributed.
He had a bum shoulder, and a pinched nerve. He still did his job.
I don’t blame him for one minute pulling her when he feels she is waning, and struggling. Look at the god awful turnover she had in game 4 - that COST us the game in my opinion.
This off-season will be the biggest feat in Laimbeers coaching career.
Can he keep the team on top with all the CBA, and bargaining agreements? If he can keep the team together, (I think Cash will be gone) And make some needed improvements, this will seal the deal with Laimbeer. He will be one of the WNBA’s greatest coach of all time in my opinion. And GM. He will be a busy man this off-season.
Now if he bails, or leaves the team in shambles I will be disappointed. But Laimbeer will be moving on to the NBA in some capacity soon.
There was a profile on Real Sports featuring Bill (and in a smaller fashion, Rick Mahorn) and the Shock about Bill and Rick bringing the spirit of the original bad boys to the Shock. If I remember correctly, the correspondent asked a trio of Shock players (I think Cash was one, maybe Deanna Nolan also, but I could be making up who they actually asked) if they thought his methods would translate as successfully with men and they basically flatly said no. I’m hardly saying they’re right or wrong, and they could’ve even being trying to protect their own interests, but I’m just curious if anyone remembers what I’m talking about and/or has insight on it.
If Laimbeer felt that Cash’s problem was her injury history, he would have said so. What he said is “When Swin Cash tries hard she’ll play”. If that’s actually secret code for “She’s hurt” then it’s even STUPIDER because he could have AVOIDED a problem by saying “I think she’s hurt, she disagrees” instead he CREATED a problem by saying she isn’t trying. Cash will openly admitt her back is messed up but in the SAME breath she defends here efforts vigorously. Even if you think the reason Bill isn’t playing her is her back then you can’t POSSIBLY agree that OPENLY LYING and saying it was effort = good coach damnit, that just does NOT add up.
Please stop making excuses for Laimbeer’s handling of the situation. If you think she’s done great, I did allow for that possibility but Laimbeer hasn’t said it’s because she’s injured, he said she doesn’t try hard enough.
I’m not disagreeing she has a back probelm, I’m stating that what’s CONSIDERABLY more important at this time is that Bill and Swin aren’t SPEAKING to each other much and that the coach has challenged the player’s heart PUBLICALLY.
Here: http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/columns/story?columnist=voepel_mechelle&id=3023536
that was posted AFTER I wrote this article. Note the following:
“And Cash survived an obviously tumultuous relationship with Laimbeer as she helped Detroit secure its second trophy.
Cash is a team captain, owns a home in Detroit and has strong ties to the community here … but the word is that “Trader Bill” has tried hard to deal Cash. Her salary is a big part of what made it difficult to do so, and Cash came back with the Shock for another title run.
She and Laimbeer are really no closer to seeing eye to eye, though. Laimbeer thinks Cash does not produce as consistently as she should. Cash thinks Laimbeer doesn’t respect her. She talked about that earlier in the Finals.
“The one struggle with Bill and I is that he sees how usually I’m really physical or how I attack. And if I’m not that quick to do that, I know that frustrates him,” Cash said last week of the effects of her back problems. “But at the same time, you know, you have to imagine what’s going on inside of me, the frustration I’m dealing with.
“But I’m giving my all any time I’m out there. Sometimes, that’s not enough for what our team needs right now … but please believe every time I step on that floor, it’s to help my team win.”
It doesn’t MATTER who’s right, it’s extremely difficult for a team to perform with that kind of nonsense going on in the background.
Honestly I think I’m done posting to these kinds of threads. I work hard on these articles and I do a great deal of research before I post. It’s not like I’m just responding to a hypothetical trade here, I’m writing something in my own words with my own name on it. Voepel has been quietly covering the Laimbeer/Cash dispute for like two years now, I’m sorry I’m the ONLY person who read it.
Agree with Bill, Agree with Swin thats not the point the point is that Bill fucking threw one of his players under a bus repeatedly over effort. One way or another that has to change or the Shock will consistantly fail to live up to their potential.
Have a great week, I have a life to take care of.
First of all, quit sounding like the Shock beat themselves, they were beaten by a team that is much faster, wanted it more and was the better team for the whole series.
Lambeer always has an excuse for losing. The refs are cheating him, the team is not following his directions and on and on. I watched game three in Phoenix and he is beyond a doubt the biggest cry baby I have ever seen in sports. Any NBA team that hires him as their coach would be crazy. He would have a mutiny the first week of training camp. He is a joke to the rest of the cfountry, just like he was when he was playing kick and slug on the basketball court.
Bring on the Shock again next year. Phoenix will beat them again because they and Lambeer will still be crying about this year.
Hey, calm down!!
Bill threw Cash under the bus, and Cash threw one of the worst passes for a crucial turnover in game 4. I would pull her out as well.
If Laimbeer is done with her, and you seem very sure of that (as do I) I am not in the least bit surprised he has taken this course of action. (Injury or not) Seems Laimbeer like to me. If she is not pulling her weight (and she was not) Then I dont blame Bill at all. Could he have been nicer about it? Sure. But then he would not be very Laimbeer like.
If you fight, and work hard - Bill is on your side. If you slack, and you are not playing to the level that you should, or to the level Bill thinks you should - you are out, and he dismisses you.
You obviously do not agree with Laimbeer’s style. I do.
And Bill leaving her in, in the last minute of game 5 while pulling the rest of his starters was a direct message to Cash.
My bad, honestly must not have parsed what you said properly in that first post. I am genuinely sorry.
Please anyone reading this understand that I’m not actually recomending that the Shock fire Bill Laimbeer. All I’m saying is that this team has a SERIOUS personality problem and that was a bigger factor in why they didn’t repeat this year than either A) injuries B) fatigue or C) the WNBA’s long running policy of calling 4 fouls a half on the Shock just because they’re PROBABLY playing dirty, regardless of evidence.
Personally I don’t care if Bill rips the team appart, what I want to see is the Shock play up to their level every night. This team is built to DOMINATE the WNBA… if it isn’t, get rid of the problems and bring in players who can accomplish that. Seriously I don’t think most casual fans understand how GOOD the Shock are James. You seem to know the league well and if that’s true you know I’m not exadurating when I say they are the absolute class of the WNBA. The fact is that on paper the Shock’s 2nd team is better than most first teams in the league. I didn’t make that up it’s definately true, and YES Bill did that and I love him for it…. now if he’d just learn to coach basketball everything would be fine. There is no way anyone can say he used Katie Feenstra properly this year and I’d almost BET Bill agrees with that assesment.
And really, all the whining and backtalk has to stop. That isn’t on Bill because he’s NOT the one doing the whining and backtalking….however if his players won’t listen when he says “shut up about the refs and play basketball” isn’t that a coaching problem?
I’m all for telling Swin Cash to enjoy her last couple years in the WNBA someplace warmer if that’s what it takes to stop f*cking around and play basketball on the level the Shock are capable consistantly. Something however DOES have to change about the mental attitude this team brings to the court…. right now the single best NBA comparison I can find for this team’s mental outlook is the Miami Heat… and that’s NOT a good thing.
PS, something is wrong with the world when I’m stuck inside my apartment because they’re blowing cars up for Hulk 2 outside my window. I finally caved and decided to stay at a hotel (on the movie) for the next two nights but somehow didn’t manage to pack fast enough and have to wait for their next break before I can leave or risk disturbing a multi-million dollar shot…. *sighs* I’m deeply sorry if I’m testy because of all this nonsense and I swear I’m trying not to let it come across in my conversations but dude…
Imagine having your whole life screwed up from 7PM to 7AM every day for a movie you KNOW nobody is going to actually watch….
sorry
PistonsGirl4Life, do you carry this tiresome persecution complex everywhere you go? In your article you wrote, “He [Laimbeer] also took Swin Cash from an MVP level forward to a 22 min a night player who won’t even look him in the eye during team huddles …. riding her into the ground and constantly questioning her effort has NOT produced a return to All Star form. Neither has slashing her minutes to half a game.”
Is there any mention of her bad back? No. Disingenuous on your part … but it IS relevant to Cash’s ability and playing time, if not convenient for your thesis. So I filled in the missing information. Then you called it “stupid.” Niiiiice. Way to go, Joan of Arc.
I’m not blind to Bill Laimbeer’s faults. Or to anyone else’s. But I’ve seen worse coaches get jobs, and nicer coaches get fired for losing. The man can coach, even if he has a two year half-life with any team. That’s all most coaches have, at best.
Now go off and play martyr while you’re composing another verbose “look at me” post. You ask for what you get here, but not half what you deserve.
Well, I guess we know who won’t be sending me a Christmas card.
Fwiw I didn’t mention her injury because thats not why Bill said she wasn’t playing. Additionally this has been a problem between the two since 2004, so I felt I was commenting on quite a bit more than this game. However you’re right, I really should have offered a side note that she’s injured although again, how much is really hard to say when Swin is saying she can roll and Bill is saying she isn’t trying… mind you that MIGHT have been a bit easier if Bill had said that’s why she’s not playing, which of course he didn’t as I’m sure you’re aware…except you didn’t mention at all.
As for your assement of my mind set……. ummm yeah, have a great week….psycho.
PS, before you respond explosively Lanier you might want to go back to the log after the last post I make where I say “I really can’t do this kind of thing because I feel the need to argue angrily over the stupidest responses”…. I have the utmost respect for Bloggers and Sportswriters who lay their opinion on the line week after week and are forced to NEVER respond to their critics because cheif as you can definately see I can’t do that. Not capable.
As for calling your response stupid, fair I really didn’t mean stupid I’m just frustrated that the entire story has gone to “Swin Cash” was injured and suddenly NOBODY is mentioning the fact that Bill and her HATE each other or are damn close. Even Voepel who has inside information on the subject alternates almost DAILY from “The Shock are messed up” to “Everything is fine but injuries” which just isn’t fair.
I got mad at you for doing EXACTLY what I did in my article which was not mention something I didn’t consider relevant about the situation… that’s bad but really man I already told you I’m not a proffessional writer, just a fan who watches ALOT of basketball.
I think you can safely say that now that the Shock’s season is over it’s HIGHLY unlikely I’ll ever venture into the world of writing another article for DBB… Meaning my flaws as a writer (and apparently as a person, I mean that might be the nastiest portrayal of me I’ve EVER seen on the internet, nice work but seems like you’re delving a little too deep) probably won’t matter to ANYONE (including me) when I’m just another Bad Boys fan in the comments.
Now really ciao and try not to be pissed at me for something I’ve already admitted I suck at controlling… The Hulk guys finally said I can leave so I’m really running away for like 3.5 days now… I have a friend who’s gonna page me if Shawn Marion gets traded
OT but I’m crossing my fingers for a good Hulk Smash! movie with Ed Norton.
Nice article.
I agree with someone up there. I can’t imagine that Laimbeers personality would last much more that 2-3 years before having to move on. Which isnt necessarily a bad thing if his team wins, especially a championship.
I completely agree with PG4L. I’ve watched nearly every televised WNBA game for at least 8 years now and have been fascinated by the Shock. Laimbeer stole Katie Smith right out from under the nose of the Lynx, made a great trade for Feenstra and has arguably the best pure shooter in the league in Tweetie Nolan. The inconsistency of the team–even allowing for injuries–is not attributable to player heart or talent. You’ve got to look at coaching.
Swin Cash has not come back completly from her ACL and in that she is comparable to her UConn teammate, Sue Bird, who hasn’t been the same since she had her nose broken repeatedly. Who knows if Tamika Catchings will be the same player after she rehabs her torn achilles.
I’ve seen for years that an opposing team can pretty easily get inside the head of many Shock players and really mess with them. Braxton and Ford seem especially suceptible to that.
Laimbeer has coached this team into the ground in some way. PG4L wrote a very good article backed up by solid evidence gleaned from watching lots of WNBA games. I enjoyed reading what she had to say.
Thanks to PG4L for contributing this article, and thanks to the DBBs for posting it. I can honestly say that reading it made me somewhat disappointed that I didn’t watch the WNBA Finals…which I never thought possible. I may even end up watching the Shock play next year. What kind of subliminal messages are you putting in your posts, PG4L?
Ummm, is it okay to admitt I’m kinda choked up? Not bawling like AK-47 in broken english or anything but…. thanks guys.
and Basketbawful if you’re who I think you are, thanks doubly that means alot coming from the funniest basketball writer on the internet (No offense Matt and note I didn’t say BEST *grin*).